Our Pillars
InCommOn’s approach of addressing urban issues is holistic, emphasises circularity, and is based on the following three pillars:
EQUALITY & SOCIAL INCLUSION
We are against any form of social exclusion based on age, gender, sexual orientation, race, religious faith, disability, social and economic standing. Non-discrimination is not only a principle reflected in our our hiring process and internal work protocols but we also actively promote equality and social inclusion in the projects that we organize for, and, alongside the communities that we work with.
ACTIVE COMMUNITIES
Addressing complex and challenging urban crises does not only depend on the state or private companies but requires active citizens who will bring attention to their neighborhoods’ problems, mobilize people and resources, and campaign for change. Lack of engagement with the commons renders any urban problem more acute and we therefore make a point to promote active citizenship in our projects.
ENVIRONMENTAL REGENERATION
Global urban growth has led to the accumulation of tremendous amounts of waste and pollution and to an ever-growing number of premature deaths, poverty, serious environmental disruption, and overall poor quality of life. Our goal is to tackle environmental degradation, achieve greener and cleaner natural surroundings, and make more livable the urban environment οf the communities that we work in.
Projects
1. Kyklos: Urban Sustainability & Circularity Lab
Since March of 2019, InCommOn has been operating this participatory project which aims to engage communities and urge them to generate new initiatives towards urban development through the vehicle of circular economy. It is also a place for other projects and initiatives to be generated, for the community to engage in co-education and the co-creation of urban solutions, for ecological development and to be a reference point for the neighbourhood to meet and collaborate.
2. Kafsimo
Since 2019, InCommOn has been running a community-based project which focuses on recycling coffee waste into clean bioenergy in a manner that develops social inclusion and equitable economic systems. Kafsimo is a project with ecological aims, based on social inclusion and community involvement. The goal is to standardise this innovative model so as to be adapted to any geographical area and organic waste stream.
It is part of a wider multi-circular economy system that involves exchanging used coffee grounds from local cafés with ‘staramakia’ (natural wheat straws) to replace plastic straws. In this way we can maximise the community participation and awareness on both the issues of organic waste over-production and the over-consumption of single use plastics.
3. FoodTreasure
An environmental action initiative with the motto ‘Waste Less, Treasure More’. It focuses on reducing food waste, repurposing organic waste and working with municipalities, schools and the public to reshape behaviour around the reuse of ‘waste’. The project involves scientific research, public engagement, advocacy and participatory education by a team of educators and scientists. A central aspect of the project is cultivating ‘The Urban Shell’; FoodTreasure conducts practical research on the possibilities of easily replicable composting techniques (for small gardens, balconies, municipalities etc) in urban and peri-urban Mediterranean settings.
4. Circular Economy Venture
Showcase project -based at the based at the Urban Sustainability & Circularity Lab -through which issues such as food costs, food waste, use of fossil fuels, the need for a green economy and the economic viability of an environmentally sustainable business will be discussed, publicised and addressed.
5. Getting the New Generation On Board!
Student competitions approved by the Ministry of Education. The competitions were implemented for the first time in the school year 2019-2020 and our goal is to continue in the coming years.
-Competition ‘Making a circular economy’
Students are asked to submit a description of a Circular Economy plan that could be implemented on the school premises.
-Competition ‘Waste Less-Treasure More’
Students are invited to submit collective work related to the presentation of the existing situation of food waste and proposed solutions to reduce and utilise their residue.
6. Eco-Friendly Supported Housing Project: “Filoxenia”
During the years 2016-2018, social housing was provided for refugees and homeless people in Evosmos, Thessaloniki. The project was based on the model of co-habitation, which involved participatory planning, inclusive decision-making and co-implementation of ideas and plans, combining an eco-friendly perspective with the minimal carbon footprint, utilising waste management systems and promoting environmental education activities.
7. Social Hub @ Evosmos. Inclusion, Environment, Power
During the years 2017 and 2018, Filoxenia operated a Community Centre in Evosmos, Thessaloniki, with educational, cultural and environmental activities for all ages, designed and implemented by and for the users of the centre.
8. Landscape
In 2017, Filoxenia organised and carried out Daily Mobile Actions to raise awareness and inform citizens of Northern Greece about immigration due to economic, political and environmental factors.